Limerick surrender Allianz Hurling League title as Kilkenny prevail in semi-final clash

LIMERICK suffered their first defeat in the Allianz National Hurling League since their one-point loss to Cork in early February 2023 as Kilkenny secured their place in this year’s Division 1 final thanks to a comfortable 3-17 to 1-15 win over John Kiely’s men at a wind-swept SuperValu Páiric Uí Chaoimh on Saturday evening.

After a blistering opening five minutes, after which Limerick led 1-2 to no reply, Kilkenny, aided by swirling wind in the opening half, took a 3-6 to 1-6 lead into the half time break. The Cats responded well to an early Aaron Gillane goal as Luke Hogan, TJ Reid, and Eoin Cody raised green flags of their own.

Limerick, however, failed to take full advantage of the wind and a 20-minute numerical advantage after Eoin Cody saw red just three minutes after half-time as Kilkenny extended their final winning margin to eight – 3-17 to 1-15.

As expected, Limerick got off to a flying start and were 1-2 to 0-0 ahead inside five minutes thanks to an early Aaron Gillane goal and points from Cathal O’Neill and Diarmaid Byrnes (free), despite playing into a very strong breeze coming from the city end.

With just three minutes on the clock, Gillane latched on to a loose ball after a long ball by Bary Nash to give Eoin Murphy no chance to react in the Kilkenny goal.

However, Kilkenny were back on level terms by the 10th minute thanks to points from Billy Ryan and Reid (free) and a well-taken goal from Kilkenny sharpshooter Eoin Cody.

Less than a minute after Ryan had levelled terms – 1-2 apiece – poacher Luke Hogan tapped in a rebounded Eoin Cody effort to put three between the sides with just 11 minutes on the clock.

Six minutes later, Limerick stopped the rot and got their first score in 12 minutes when an Aaron Gillane free – his first of the evening – narrowed the deficit to three points.

John Kiely’s men survived another goal scare when TJ Reid almost caught the entire Limerick defence by surprise when the Kilkenny stalwart drilled a free towards goal, only for his powerful effort to be blocked on the line by the feet of a number of Limerick defenders. Gillane brought it back to a two-point game a minute later with Limerick’s first point from play since O’Neill slotted over in the fifth minute.

Kilkenny, however, scored 1-3 compared to Limerick’s two points to take a six-point lead into half-time with a superb goal from Reid raising the green flag for a third time for Kilkenny six minutes before the break.

After the restart, Kilkenny were reduced to 14 in the 38th minute when Eoin Cody saw red, but despite having the breeze behind them and the numerical advantage, Limerick failed to narrow the deficit as the Cats outscored their Munster counterparts by 11 points to nine in the second half.  

Limerick were reduced to 14 players themselves 13 minutes from time when Peter Casey saw red for a challenge on Paddy Deegan.

In what was a repeat of last year’s league and All-Ireland finals, Limerick came into Saturday evening's game unbeaten, but it will be Kilkenny who await the outcome of Sunday’s other semi-final between Clare and Tipperary ahead of this year’s league final.

John Kiely’s attention will now turn to the opening round of the Munster SHC final when they face a trip to Cusack Park for a clash with great rivals Clare in Ennis on April 21. 

SCORERS: Limerick: Aaron Gillane 1-5 (three frees); Tom Morrissey (two frees), Cathal O’Neill, David Reidy (one free) 0-2 each; Diarmaid Byrnes (free), Donnacha Ó Dálaigh, Peter Casey, Gearóid Hegarty 0-1 each. Kilkenny: TJ Reid 1-8 (seven frees, one ’65), Billy Drennan (one free one ’65), Adrian Mullen 0-3; Eoin Cody, Luke Hogan 1-0 each; Cillian Buckley, Billy Ryan, Martin Keoghan 0-1 each.

LIMERICK: Nickie Quaid; Barry Nash, Seán Finn, Aaron Costello; Diarmaid Byrnes, Declan Hannon (capt.), Cathal O’Neill; William O’Donoghue, Cian Lynch; Gearóid Hegarty, Adam English, Tom Morrissey; Aaron Gillane, Donnacha Ó Dálaigh, Peter Casey. Subs: David Reidy for English (half time), Conor Boylan for Lynch (55 minutes), Seamus Flanagan for Gillane (60), Mark Quinlan for Hannon (61), Aidan O’Connor for Hegarty (67).

KILKENNY: Eoin Murphy; Shane Murphy, Huw Lawlor, Tommy Walsh; David Blanchfield, Paddy Deegan, Cillian Buckley; Cian Kenny, Jordan Molloy; Adrian Mullen, John Donnelly, Luke Hogan, TJ Reid, Eoin Cody. Subs: Richie Reid for Buckley (half time), Martin Keoghan for Hogan (45 minutes), Billy Drennan for TJ Reid (60), Timmy Clifford for Donnelly (69), Kevin Blanchfield for Kenny (70)

REFEREE: James Owens (Wexford)